Twelfth Night

 The evening of January 5th is called Twelfth Night, the Eve of the Epiphany, the night that the three Magi traveled to Bethlehem to see the newborn baby Jesus.

In Italy, the story goes, the Befana (short for Epiphania) was busy sweeping her floor that night, when the Magi stopped at her house. They invited her to come along with them on their trip to see Jesus but she said she was too busy.

Later she changed her mind and decided to follow, but she couldn’t find them. She continues her search each year on Twelfth Night, flying on a broom, going from house to house and leaving gifts.

Agenda:

1. Twelfth Night queries

2. Creative Perspective plans

3. Resolutions postcard

4. Walking script

5. Read "SoulSpace"

6. Sweeping

7. Clean and clear the kitchen

8. Make Focaccia della Befana

9. Leave gifts

1. Twelfth Night queries:

Today is the last day of Christmas. I'll give attention today to my inner Befana, the God-Spirit as Grandmother, aged and full of wisdom. She reminds me to pay attention to the path that lies before me, keep my priorities straight, and stay open to what each day offers. 

Truth is a continual revelation, a constantly unfolding series of insights about how my mind works, how the world works, how other people view the world, and my role in all of that. The Light of Truth is what guides me, one step at a time, down my path. If I listen for the voice of Truth in the midst of my daily work and in my relationships, then I will see the road I need to travel.

Where is the road leading me in 2026? 

What do I need to gather and pack for the trip? 

What distractions and potholes do I face?

It's a little unsettling that my ground is always unfolding before me, like a foggy pathway, but also liberating because it means I don't need to have all the answers right now. I have faith that New Light will be given to me, because that has been my experience.

My journal: The message I received yesterday in Meeting was, "Now is your time to shine." Wow - that is exhilarating and scary. I'm fully committed to the road my Nature-Culture book is taking me down - and each piece of it is unfolding at a steady pace.  

2. Creative Perspective plans for the week:

This is my year of creative perspective.

Creative perspective: To keep a positive and broad perspective; shift my perspective to help myself find equanimity, and also expand my perspective (think outside the box), having the courage to take experimental risks and express myself honestly with words and art.

 

I plan to set myself Creative Perspective tasks each week: Define a new narrative to re-frame and shift my thinking, set some creative renewal habits and scripts, and open space for intuition and inspiration with beginner's mind, to generate inspiring proaction and creativity ideas. This week:

1. New narrative: "I am the Zen Grandma: Things don't need to go my way; it's not always about me! I am happy to flow with the needs and wants of others, and find the creative shift we all need."
2. Walking script: I'm going to use the habit-making process I learned last year to design a script to bring myself to a daily walk.
3. Beginner's Mind meditation on a winter nature awareness retreat program.

3. Resolutions postcard:

As usual, I'm ready at the New Year to upgrade my health habits, take control of my moods, and have more discipline in general. These are not all of my high ideals and goals, but just three improvements I resolve to make in my daily routine:

Today I made this postcard to remind myself of my intentions!

4. Walking script:

Last fall I read The Sweet Spot by Christine Carter (2015), which lined out a way to write a script for building a new habit. Tip #1 is to sketch a draft of the whole routine I want to build - It needs to be so detailed that I don't need to make any decisions at all, just going through the steps in order on auto-pilot, so I don't need any self-control. It has worked great for my morning exercises, so I'm hopeful that I might make it work for walking, too. 

4 a.m. - Think about the weather and make a note of possible walking destinations. 

 

8 a.m. - Get dressed and put on walking shoes. Set out appropriate weather gear.

8:30 - Eat breakfast (chill out) 

9:00 - Brush teeth and put on coat.

9:15 - Out the door.

5. Read 

"SoulSpace":

I'm just beginning this little book I bought, by Xorin Balbes (2011), with the subtitle "Transform Your Home, Transform Your Life". The introduction is The Eight SoulSpace Stages. He says to start with an affirmation, but I have set this intention:

I intend to bring order and simplicity to my home, bit my bit, and finish the things I start. I will take the time to truly see the places I am stuck and the emotional connections I have to this place and it's trappings. I will heal my home and myself from the haphazard, disrespectful, way we have been treated and release the regrets and clutter that hold us back, because it is time for me to show the world who I really am.

 

Part One is Knowing the Past, and the first stage is Assessment: Open Your Eyes and See What is Truly There. in this phase I will do detective work: "Use your beginner's mind to take a fresh look at what you've become immune to seeing; appraise what is there on a physical and emotional level, learn to appreciate the best of what exists, and begin to recognize what no longer serves your life."

I started this process yesterday with the kitchen, and took steps to create a tidier pantry table in the corner, and remove the kid's camp bed from under the dinner table (we still have a rug and pillows under there, but it will be easier to clean). A couple other notes for work to do in the kitchen:

• Design a new counter, drainboard, and backsplash.
• Install an over-the-sink light again.
• Finish the edge of the chimney shelf.
• Paint a pastel rainbow around the back door?

6. Sweeping: 

Twelfth Night is when we take down all the decorations and clean up all the dry greenery. I've already dismantled my wreath, but today I will clear the greens off the mantle shelf, and put them in a paper bag in the garage, to save for the Imbalc fire on February 1st.

And today I will stow away the last of the Christmas decorations - I do a thorough search because anything left out is supposed to stay up all year!

Next I will carefully sweep up all the needles, dirt, and dog hair, working my way slowly through the house, sweeping each room, getting into the corners and under the furniture.
When I sweep on this day, I give attention to the feel of the broom in my hand and the sound it makes on the floor. 

Some people focus on “sweeping away negative energy” but I think about gathering my resources - past, present, future.

This attentive sweeping is how I honor Befana, and all my Grandmothers through the ages, who kept houses clean; and also it's how I remind myself to give full attention to the ordinary work of my life.

7. Clean and clear the kitchen:

In January I kick off a month of deep cleaning. My house has certain mold-related issues that are best done before we get any deeper into winter, and winter is a great time to simplify possessions!

A note about mold: I used to use bleach against mold, but I've been experimenting with safer approaches. The Home Healthy Homes site has a complete list. Today I'm using borax solution - 1 cup borax to 1 gallon water.

I take it one room at a time, and this week I'll clean and clear the kitchen:

• Shine the Sink: Make a solution of 1 cup of borax and a gallon of water in the sink, and let it soak for 1 hour. Use the borax solution to scrub around the rim of the sink and the faucets until they sparkle. Rinse well. (I also have a plastic cup of borax with a toothbrush sitting by my kitchen sink, to apply to the metal sink rim every day.)
• Scrub the mold from the windows with detergent and warm water, then wipe with the borax solution. Wait 20 minutes and repeat, and do not rinse because borax will help prevent mold from growing again. When it's dry, touch up the paint on the windows (moisture often leaves areas of bare paint around my panes).
• Clean the refrigerator/freezer: Remove all the food and the shelves, and clean with a mild detergent. Post a list of what is in the freezer.
• Clear out one box of items we don't use: Put a big box in the kitchen and clear one drawer, cabinet or shelf every day. At the end of the week, find new homes for everything in the box - either donate , or use in an art project.
• Clear old food: Use up or toss all old preserves, spices, and past date canned goods this month.

8. Make Focaccia della Befana:

This traditional Italian sweet bread is studded with candied orange rind. The tradition is to put a little coin wrapped in aluminum foil inside the bread, and the lucky one who finds the coin will be fortunate in the New Year!

The recipes here.

9. Leave gifts:

Today I will wrap a gift for my grandsons with a special card from Befana. It's the last special gift of the Christmas season.